With fewer opportunities for trial experience, can you afford not to send your associates to the premiere trial skills program?  

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Annual Trial Academy
April 22-24, 2015 at The Brown Palace
Practicum organized by
Dean A. McConnell, Esq.
COPIC Insurance Company
22 General credits (including at least 1 Ethics credit)  

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A Three Day Investment for Immediate and Lifelong Benefits

This two and one-half day workshop develops trial practice skills through a combination of lecture, practicum exercises, and a mock trial.

The Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Trial Academy is the preeminent defense trial advocacy training program and is a career-changing opportunity for lawyers both looking to practice fundamental trial skills and seeking to take their techniques and tactics to the next level.

This intensive program that blends small group faculty (3:1 students to mentors) instruction and demonstration with individual student participation.  Its proven formula of hands-on learning accelerates the development of trial skills in a relatively short period of time. The first day and one-half are devoted to subject matter lectures regarding necessary trial skills that are supported by mentored practicum exercises putting to use the techniques being taught. 

The third day consists of a day-long personal injury trial that will unfold under the watchful eyes of retired judges and before a panel of mock jurors.  Students will be divided into trial teams of three for plaintiff and three for defendant. Each team will divide up tasks among the following: jury voir dire; opening statement; plaintiff direct/cross; plaintiff expert direct/cross; defendant direct/cross; defendant expert direct/cross; and closing argument. Jurors will be given a concise set of instructions and retire for deliberations. Upon rendering their verdict, a moderated debriefing will occur between students and jurors.

The academy will also include an instruction on the use of trial presentation software. Technicians will provide classroom training and assist in hands-on assistance during practicum and trial exercises.

Choosing the CDLA Trial Academy
for you and your firm provides:

A track record of success in creating confidence in the courtroom 
Students who have attended have come away with greater confidence and more sophisticated litigation skills that will benefit them and their firms for the balance of their professional careers.  

Instantaneous Return on Investment
In today's environment, it is more important than ever to have experienced and skilled lawyers working for your firm.  The complexity and value of cases have escalated. Your lawyers need to get up to speed quickly.  The CDLA Trial Academy provides 20 hours of faculty demonstrations by lawyers recognized as the best civil defense litigators followed by practice, practice and more practice by students all culminating in a live trial.  

Documented Progress  
Students are critiqued while conducting mock opening statements, direct and cross examinations of lay and expert witnesses, and closing arguments.  This provides the invaluable opportunity for students to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Why we are different

Unlike many other trial skills programs, the CDLA Trial Academy offers training provided by faculty lecturers and a group of practicum mentors consisting of the best civil defense lawyers in Colorado. They focus on defense techniques and tactics and teach participants how to think like defense lawyers.  

The practicum exercises and trial will be based on a common medical liability fact pattern which will teach transferable skills for other types of civil trials, with live witnesses, real judges and real jurors. 

General Information

This is an intensive learning experience that is only successful where the students are well-versed in the case file and prepared for hands-on participation from the first afternoon forward. It is expected that students will spend substantial time before the seminar and during the evenings preparing for the next day’s exercises.

CLE Credits: Approximately 22 hours of CLE credits will be awarded - (21 General and 1 Ethics)

Cost: $700 per student, limited to 18 students, space will be held once payment is received.  Deadline for registration is March 31st.  Click below to register.